Danville Express

Waste rates won't rise this year

Danville will use financial reserves to keep prices the same

Danville Mayor Candace Andersen and Councilman Mike Shimansky said they planned to vote against increasing the town's garbage rates at the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority board of directors meeting this week.

The two represent Danville on the Waste Authority board and announced their intentions at the last Town Council meeting.

"With the current state of the economy, I don't want to put any added pressure onto any family's budget," Andersen said. "I do know that there are families struggling here."

Danville residents pay approximately $16.35 a month for garbage collecting fees. This does not include the recycling or the green waste disposal.

"Danville will not have to see a rate increase," Andersen added.

Although she noted the rates may go up in the next couple of years due to increasing fuel costs and medical insurance for garbage collectors.

The Waste Authority is a coalition of agencies from Central Contra Costa County with two representatives from each member agency on the board. Agencies are Danville, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Moraga and Lafayette, and Contra Costa County and its unincorporated areas including Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo.

"It became effective and did the garbage collection in '94-'95," said Paul Morsen, executive director of the Authority. "Joining together saved many millions of dollars for decades."

Each individual city gets to implement its own rates. As a joint group, the board members make a unified decision on increasing collectors' rates, garbage collector's health insurance costs and new vehicles. Morsen noted that Danville would use its financial reserves rather than raise its rates.

Andersen, Shimansky and other Waste Authority members were to meet Jan. 31 at Walnut Creek City Hall.

The board's decision will take effect in March and expire February 2009.

"Members hopefully will provide a better deal for ratepayers," said Morsen.